United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger today announced the sentencing of LYLE HOFFMAN a/k/a “Ty,” 45, to 57 months in prison. HOFFMAN pleaded guilty on July 8, 2015, to armed bank robbery at a Blaine TCF Bank branch. The defendant was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle in U.S. District Court in St. Paul, Minn.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, on August 11, 2014 HOFFMAN, murdered his former partner, Kelly Phillips, at a gas station in Arden Hills, Minn. While on the run from authorities, on August 31, 2014, HOFFMAN, shielded by a blue baseball cap and sunglasses, robbed a TCF Bank branch located on County Road 10 in Blaine, Minn. The defendant ordered a bank teller to give him money, before removing a handgun from his backpack and pointing it at the teller while he repeated his demand. The teller gave HOFFMAN approximately $12,020 during the robbery, included a packet of money containing a dye pack.

According to the defendant’s guilty plea and documents filed in court, reports were made to law enforcement that HOFFMAN was in Prior Lake, Minn., and had been spotted at various casinos. Following up on those tips, law enforcement collected dye-stained money from casinos in Prior Lake and from a transit machine at the Mall of America. The defendant was arrested on September 11, 2014, after walking through the drive-thru lawn of an Arby’s restaurant in Shakopee, Minn. HOFFMAN had more than $3,000 in dye-stained money on him when he was arrested.

The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Blaine Police Department.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Ueland.

Defendant Information:

• LYLE “TY” HOFFMAN, 45
• St. Cloud, Minn.

Convicted:

• Armed bank robbery, one count

Sentenced:

• 57 months in prison